A STUDENT who mocked footballer Fabrice Muamba on social networking site Twitter after he collapsed during a match was jailed yesterday for inciting racial hatred.

Pontypridd student Liam Stacey, 21, provoked revulsion with comments made while the Bolton Wanderers star still lay on the pitch.

The 23-year-old midfielder was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack during an FA Cup tie on March 17.

Horrified fans watched live on TV as he fell to the ground during the quarter-final clash at Tottenham Hotspur.

Police were inundated with complaints as members of the public reported the student’s comments. Stacey, a Swansea University biology undergraduate, was quickly tracked down and arrested.

Last week he admitted inciting racial hatred when he appeared briefly at Swansea Magistrates’ Court and yesterday he was jailed for 56 days at the same court.

The first of Stacey’s messages began with “LOL (laugh out loud). **** Muamba. He’s dead!!!”

A number of people took him to task for his views and he responded with a further string of offensive comments aimed at other Twitter users.

Stacey was close to tears during his appearance before magistrates last week.

Muamba’s recovery since suffering a cardiac arrest 10 days ago has been described as “miraculous”.

He remains in intensive care in hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.

Meanwhile, a rugby club Stacey has played for were quick to distance themselves from the student. Treorchy RFC tweeted that Stacey “is an occasional player for our second team. His views are his own and are NOT shared by Treorchy RFC.”